Appendix: Ohio Passenger List

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3 Responses to “Table of Contents: Ohio Tales of the Titanic”

My name is Janice Eisert living in Erie,Pa.I knew John Whitman about as well as anyone could.I was chosen by him t 16 feet longo solely cover any and all news of his Titanic Museum and Art School on Russell Rd. in Sidney, Ohio.In 1987 I interviewed and took multiple pictures of students rangeing in ages up to and including 68, proudly showing their artful expertises to me.Someone previously stated the museum/school was on Fair Rd.and it may have been in a later year but while I lived in Sidney (and once on Fair Rd. myself), I can attest to its location left of his home and slightly receded from Russell Rd. as you traveled west past the drive-in.John was an artist no words could describe, self-made or otherwise.I witnessed a scale model of the Titanic John was building that he knew and told me exactly what it weighed by measuring every pound to the ounce of all nails, pieces of wood, buckets of paint, and any other material being used.It stood at least 16 feet long and I’m not sure how tall but it was so amazing and beautiful it almost made you feel roster of you were there.His murals of the Titanic on tapestries were equally as breathtaking.I was privileged to see some artifacts of that doomed ship such as the passenger roster in type, and one in handwriting of the lesser class of people trapped in the lowest level who inevitably went down with the ship to insure the higher classes of people being able to escape on the lifeboats .At the time of my coverage of John for the ver Wapakienetta News my name was Janice Kah and whatever shortcomings some may think about John he was truly dedicated as a Titanic enthuesiest and historian. I hear he is Findley, Ohio now doing what he loves to do-paint. If you read this article John please give me a call 814-455-1442. Would love to talk to you about your latest works.

Hi, Janice,
Very interesting comment. My co-author Janet visited his museum once years ago. I never did though as I didn’t know about it when I moved to Ohio in 1993.

Since you live in Erie, you may be interested to know we have an Erie connection (which is also a Cleveland connection) in the book. That’s the story of Howard Irwin, Henry Sutehall and Pearl Shuttle. A remarkable story. Howard and Pearl were sweethearts and she was the great-aunt of Erie resident Dave Shuttle. (Dave, sadly, passed away in July 2012.) Howard by a fluke did not board Titanic. Henry did, and died. Howard’s trunk, with love letters from Pearl, was recovered from the wrecksite, restored and items put on exhibit. Pearl was in the U.S. when Howard luckily escaped boarding Titanic. However, she died of pneumonia before Howard got back home. A true-life story every bit as tragic as that of Jack and Rose.The Cleveland connection is that Howard and Henry spent several weeks working in Cleveland on their round-the-world trip that culminated with the Titanic sailing. — Mary Ann

I’m so sorry something (or someone) really whacked my article with misprints, punctuations and misspellings but I just now read your response Mary Ann , and plan to read your connection. Thank you for the story and yes it too is very sad. When I covered the museum and John, he gave me sole rights to write articles about he and the museum for the time I still lived there, whereby he showed me the the sketch he envisioned of his future museum and his trip to Europe to watch the opening of a safe from the ship hosted by Yul Brenner, all expenses paid by Cunard/White Star shipping lines. If I can help you further please let me know. Thank You, Sincerely, Jan Eisert/Jan Kah. PS.i don’t read Email, guess I should start huh?